Some Safety Tips - Changing Lanes

[geoff m]

Hi everyone,

With so many riding, its always good to update safety announcements/etiquette. I've noticed a few different approaches made for changing lanes and to reduce risk we should take a consistent approach.

Those at the front of the bunch are leading it, and those at the very back have a very important responsibility as well. Those on the right hand side of the very front and back have probably the most important guiding roles.

If you are a bit inexperienced, or if you are a junior, please don't take these two positions (on right hand side very front and very back). Ask an experience member near you to swap. If you are experience, and see a newbie or junior here, please offer/insist to swap with them.

The person at the very back right hand side should always keep an eye on the front riders, or road ahead where they can see it. Anticipate parked cars or hazards ahead.

The person on the right hand front should give plenty of warning when apporach hazards in their lanes and put out their right arm pointed 45 degrees to signal to the back that we need to change lanes.

The front person should never lead the bunch by initiating the lane change themselves, with the rest of the bunch to follow (except for emergencies). Often there is not a clear view backwards and others behind may merge across without looking.

The back right hand person should wait to it is clear and safe for all riders to change lanes. This includes ensuring cars which have passed them, have fully cleared the front riders. Also, on a three lane road, it is very important to ensure there are no cars passing on the far right lane. BOTH LANES MUST BE CLEAR. Often cars will change lanes unexpectedly and may move into the middle lane at high speed as we are moving from the left to middle lane. Also, remember, that the middle lane is on their far left, and somewhat blind. So again - don't call the bunch over from left lane to middle lane, whilst cars are passing on the far right lane.

Sometimes, a stream of cars will continue by and the front will draw close to the hazard in the lane ahead. Its important that the back rider keep calling "WAIT".... "WAIT"....."WAIT"..... if its too dangerous to pass. In some cases we might slow right down or stop as it is not safe to move lanes. So be it. The front riders of course will call out "SLOWING" or "STOPPING"

When safe to change lanes, the back rider on the right should yell out in a confident voice -"OVER" (Eric has now mastered the confident loud voice after many years of training!)

When hearing "OVER" each of us should take personal responsibility and take a quick glance to ensure its safe before changing lanes. Besides, what would happen if it was actually some dude chasing his dog and yelling out "ROVER".

For bigger groups the front might not hear the message from the back, so as we move across, others may also wish to call out OVER to the riders in front.

When moving back into the left lane after passing the hazzards, the front left rider will lead the bunch back into this lane, but should check behind to make sure no driver has decided to slip in behind and around our left side. Should a car happen to do this, which is rare, but could happen, riders at the back should yell out warnings "Car Left" or
"Car Left Lane".

Hope this helps and should reduce risks of riding. Remember, cycling on the road can be an inherently dangerous activity, and with best intentions by all, accidents can still happen, and will happen. Mostly these will be soft tissue injuries and grazing, but can be serious and sometimes life threatening. So if you do ride with our club, you choose to do so at your own risk, and accept the risks of cycling.

[weiyun]

For bigger groups the front might not hear the message from the back, so as we move across, others may also wish to call out OVER to the riders in front.

Good timing for such a reminder. But just pass the call! Riders should just develop an automatic habit of passing the calls rather than to wait for someone else to do the job for them. Slack communication within the bunch can only lead to accidents.